I was in the car this morning and heard Sarah MacDonald make the surprise announcement that she won’t be returning to her ABC Radio Sydney morning show in 2025 as her contract hasn’t been renewed.
Her gracious and funny on air spiel recounting the news to listeners included tales of being mistaken for Jennifer Aniston, rendering the Prime Minister speechless on encountering Deborah Harry and Fonzi (Henry Winkler) telling her she was “cool.” She also spoke about her part in the improved Sydney ratings, up to their highest listenership in two years.
Macdonald told her listeners on air:
“Well, here’s the news from me in terms of disappointment… I’m not going to be on the radio with you next year, the ABC has decided not to renew my contract here at Mornings.
“702 listeners, you are so wise, you just rock… you are so thoughful, intereesting, surprising… it has been such an honour and such a privilege to share your stories and your lives. I will miss telling the stories of Sydney…
“I am proud of what I’ve done. The ratings are up. I’ve broken lots of stories. Had the first interview with the new governor-general. I got the premier of New South Wales to regularly take your calls. Led the election coverage, led the move to our Parramatta studios.”
She thanked her team and the “whole 702 family.”
Unconfirmed social media posts also say that ABC Sydney weekend presenter Simon Marnie will leave the station. Marnie has over 25 years of service with the ABC. radioinfo contacted Marnie, who declined to comment.
ABC Radio Canberra’s new Drive presenter Georgia Stynes left and Morning’s Saskia Mabin right.
After my appointment I got back in the car and happened to hear ABC Canberra Mornings presenter Georgia Stynes talking with Afternoons’ Alice Matthews about changes in Australia’s capital next year too. Ross Solly has already taken over Breakfast from Adam Shirley who is staying with the ABC and has moved back into the newsroom.
Now Stynes is moving to Drive and the current Drive producer Saskia Mabin will present Mornings. Alice will stay put.
I didn’t dare switch channels again after that!
Jen Seyderhelm is a writer, editor and podcaster for Radioinfo
It seems that even if you do "produce the goods" does not guarantee continued employment.
This is whether it's Sarah MacDonald, Mark Geyer or Mitch Churi as in the latter previous two postings on this site.
It is not a recent phenomena of replacing presenters despite being successful. Presenters have been replaced despite being successful in other times.
2GB is a prime example. I don't believe in astrology and numerology. Nevertheless Steve Murphy's Saturday evening program was the top rating program in the Sydney market. Suddenly in 2010 his program was no longer.
Also it removed programs that were successful: Alan Jones, notwithstanding current legal action, Steve Price, Chris Smith, Ross Greenwood, Andrew Bolt, Rita Panahi. That also includes Brian Wilshire and Jim Ball.
There are many more examples. This site has examples of presenters being successful such as Jase and Lauren for K and J O'. Jase and Lauren are beating K and J O' on another network.
Anthony, Strathfield South, in the land of the Wangal and Darug Peoples of the Eora Nation.